Memorials › Albina Agnes “Binnie” Talasek Babovec

Albina Agnes “Binnie” Talasek Babovec

3 Feb 1916 – 23 Sep 2015

Birth3 Feb 1916
Death23 Sep 2015
Added byCarolyn Brinkmeyer on 30 Sep 2015
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/153069321

Bio

Fort Bend Herald, September 30, 2015: Albina Agnes (Talasek) Babovec, 99, of Rosenberg, passed away September 23, 2015 at The Crescent Rehabilitation Center in Sugar Land, Texas. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at First Baptist Church, Rosenberg, on October 4, 2015 at 2:30 pm. Binnie was born February 3, 1916 to parents Tom and Katherina (Horak) Talasek in Ratibor (Bell County), Texas. She, along with her three brothers and two sisters, began their early years on the family's cotton farm just outside of Temple, Texas. In 1920, her family relocated to Rosenberg where her father purchased a cotton gin. Being of Czech heritage, she did not speak any English, and found school difficult as she began grade school at Robert E. Lee Elementary in Rosenberg. She completed her education, graduating from Rosenberg High School in 1933. In 1930, the John Babovec family, also from Ratibor, moved to Rosenberg to purchase a cotton gin. The eldest son of that family was Ben, and he and Binnie began their courtship thereafter, and in 1935 were married in the Czech-Moravian Brethren Church in Rosenberg, which her parents helped organize in the late 1920's. Ben was already working for the City of Rosenberg Water Department when World War II began. He enlisted in the US Army in early 1942, and they spent the next 21 years traveling around the world as Ben served his country. Binnie and Ben lived in England, France, and the Philippines, along with numerous other military posts throughout the US. When Ben would be deployed to hostile locations such as Korea and Vietnam, Binnie would return home to Rosenberg. While Ben was deployed to Europe during WWII, Binnie worked as a welder in Houston, building military equipment for use in Europe and the Pacific. In 1949, they adopted David Allen, their only child. Ben retired from the Army in 1963, and the family again returned to Fort Bend County where they purchased a grocery business in downtown Rosenberg. Ben ran for the position of Mayor for the City of Rosenberg in the 1970's. He served 3 terms as Mayor during the '70's and early '80's and Binnie spent much of her time supporting Ben in his daily responsibilities as the Mayor's wife. She enjoyed politics and would discuss issues with anyone, no matter whether it was on a federal, state, or local level. She was emphatic that everyone of voting age be registered and exercise their right to vote. She spent countless hours signing up citizens to vote. In her later years you would find her at various polling locations throughout the city on each election day, serving as polling officer. She and Ben were active members of VFW Post #3903 and the American Legion in Rosenberg. Both spent many days each year supporting military veteran activities throughout Fort Bend County. In October 1986, Ben passed away. In 1988, David Allen was killed in a car accident. Binnie was a very active member of First Baptist Church of Rosenberg. At the time of her death, she was one of the oldest living members of the church. To Binnie, her faith was everything. She loved working with the small children, telling Bible stories, and singing gospel songs about her Lord and Savior. She worked with the Mother's Day Out Program sponsored by the church for over 18 years. Binnie loved to travel, usually with church groups as they toured various towns and cities throughout North America. She made two trips to Israel, which she always said was the highlight of her ventures. She was amazed that she was able to walk the same streets that Jesus walked and look across the same Dead Sea, just as He did. She was in awe when standing at the base of Calvary and thinking about Christ's death on the Cross. If you were someone she just met, it would only be a matter of a few moments before she began explaining her faith and telling you about her relationship with her Lord, and then asking about your relationship with the Lord. She loved to share the Good News of what Christ had done for her, and many times could be seen or heard encouraging others to consider their fate. ……As the Father has sent me, even so send I you. John 21:20b Binnie's final request was that her body be given to a medical school for research. That wish was fulfilled on Wednesday, September 23, 2015. Binnie was preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Katie Talasek; her husband; Ben Babovec; and son, David Allen Babovec; as well as each of her brothers, Jerry, Albert, Edwin, and Tom Talasek; and two sisters, Millie Psencik and Leona (Babe) Weaver. She is survived by one sister-in-law, Nancy Talasek, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to express its gratitude to niece, Cindy Poe, and to Sandra Rios and her staff of Care-Givers, for the compassionate care and attention they provided Binnie. Greatwood Retirement Center was her home for 9 years and she cherished the friends and staff who greeted her each day. Memorials may be given to First Baptist Church Mother's Day Out Program, 1117 First Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471, or the South Texas Children's Home, PO Box 759, Beeville, TX 78104. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Fort Bend Herald, Sunday, February 15, 2015: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit on the cusp of having a century of living behind you and, at the same time, marvel that there is more to come? Bennie Babovec, a resident at Greatwood at Sugar Land, a Senior Lifestyle Community (formerly the Greatwood Retirement), can tell you all about it. Born on Feb. 3, 1916, recently celebrating her 99th birthday, she will tell you that her consummate faith has sustained her through life's many ups and downs. Her father, Tom Talasek, Sr., was among the organizers of the Czech-Moravian Brethren Church in Rosenberg and she has memories of the group meeting in the upstairs of RB's Dry Good Store before the church on Sixth Street was built. Bennie's family moved to Fort Bend County from Ratibor (near Temple) when Bennie was very young. At the same time, her future husband's family moved from Ratibor and their fathers were partners in a cotton ginning business. Her husband, Ben Babovec, was mayor of Rosenberg in the 1970's and again in the 1980s when he suffered a stroke. Now, she looks back over the years and focuses on impressionable memories. Among the fun ones is that of a traveling medicine show that came to town for 3-4 days in the early 1920's. You had to buy a ticket to go into a tent and her mother bought a medicine that was claimed to cure bed-wetting. It actually worked on a young member in the family. Another memory, a devastating one, was when the Brazos River flooded and covered the railroad tracks in Rosenberg. As a young wife, she and her sister-in-law, Lucille Talasek, moved to Houston, shared an apartment, and worked as welders for Hughes Tool Company. Bennie was trained on the job, and after only three weeks, she was training other young women who were helping in the war effort. She followed Ben to live in England and The Philippines during the years he served in the Army. After his retirement, Bennie and Ben owned and operated Payless Grocery Store on Avenue G in downtown Rosenberg. For Bennie, "the glass is still half full!" Do you know that "The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts"?

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